Bathroom & Shower Tile

Wet-area tile is not like other tile work

Showers and tub surrounds get daily exposure to water, steam, and temperature changes. The tile itself is just the surface — what protects the wall framing behind it is the waterproofing system underneath. We use a sheet-applied or liquid-applied membrane (depending on the substrate and shower design) and tape all seams, corners, and pipe penetrations before a single tile goes up.

Skipping or rushing waterproofing is the most common reason bathroom renovations fail within a few years. Mold growth behind tile, delaminating walls, and soft spots in the floor are almost always a waterproofing failure, not a tile failure. We take this step seriously on every job.

Shower floor slope and drain placement

A shower floor has to slope toward the drain at the right pitch — typically 1/4 inch per foot. If the pitch is off, water pools in corners and grout deteriorates faster. We set the slope with a dry mud bed or pre-sloped foam pan depending on the design, and we confirm the pitch with a level before tile goes down. For linear drains, we slope the entire floor in one direction rather than the traditional four-way pitch, which changes the layout planning entirely.

What we install in bathrooms

Gallery

Available in these service areas

Bathroom and shower tile installation is available in Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, and Northfield.